2024 Manufacturing Apprentice - Level 2 Engineering Operative, or

Location: Templecombe, United Kingdom
Thales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems.
Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across five major industries; Aerospace, Defence, Ground Transportation, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that's why we offer you the flexibility to do what's important to you; whether that's part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.
2024 Manufacturing Apprentice
Level 2 Engineering Operative, or Level 3 Engineering Technician (Technical Support)
Are you looking for an employer who will sponsor you through your qualifications, whilst providing valuable and exciting on-the-job experience within a global, innovative and industry leading organisation?
What you'll be doing:
Through our apprenticeship you'll be making the most of your talents, getting to understand manufacturing from the ground up; and doing so with the help of one of the biggest and best names in the industry.
The first few weeks will be spent in a training area learning the key skills required for working in the manufacturing areas; assembly techniques, Wiring and looming, Soldering and ESD safety. You will be set up with all the relevant tooling and software needed to work throughout Thales.
A rotation plan will start once you have completed your manufacturing key skills training, where you will gain experience & knowledge in a different manufacturing department every 4 - 6 months. After the rotation plan and having reached the required level of skill and competence you will be put forward for an end point assessment to complete your apprenticeship.
You will become a key member of the team, with technical knowledge and practical expertise in the use of both common and specialist tools and equipment, including the use of a variety of measuring, testing, diagnostic aids/equipment and processes to ensure individual components, assemblies and/or integrated systems meet the required specification
The Programme:
As a Manufacturing Apprentice we are able to offer both a Level 2 Engineering Operative Apprenticeship and a Level 3 Engineering Technician Apprenticeship. We will work with you at the point of offer to determine which would be the best entry point for you.
The Level 2 Engineering Operative programme is a 12 month programme delivered on a day release basis with Yeovil College. You will attend college for one day per week to achieve a Level 2 Diploma, and will work in Thales Industry for the other week days.
The Level 3 Engineering Technician programme is a 36 month programme following a technical support pathway. You will attend Yeovil College for 3 days per week over your first year, and then 1 day per week for the remaining 2 years. The rest of the time you will be working within the Thales business. The final qualification will be a Level 3 Diploma.
There will be scope for those joining at Level 2 to progress onto the Level 3. This will be agreed on a case by case basis as per the circumstances of each learner.
This opportunity is in Templecombe.
Who we're looking for:
We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are motivated, committed and keen to learn. A self-starter who is able to manage their time, show initiative and has a genuine interest in manufacturing and Thales. Successful candidates will show self-discipline and an aspiration to achieve the qualification.
You will also need:
Level 2 - 2 GCSEs grade C or Level 4 and above
Level 3 - 5 GCSEs grade C or Level 5 and above, including Maths and English
Right to Work in the UK for the duration of the programme.
Please note, assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February and May 2024. Induction week for all Graduate and Apprentices will run from Monday 2 September until Friday 6 September 2024.
Closing date: Our applications will close at 11.59pm on Sunday 11 February 2024, this is the only time we will be accepting applications this year. Please note we will be in contact by the end of February 2024 with details of next steps.
Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales many of our roles are subject to security restrictions and, as a result, you may be limited to what you can work on within our business in relation to your place of birth and/or nationality.
As standard, all successful candidates must possess the permanent right to work in the UK, and will be required to go through Government security clearance at BPSS Level prior to starting with us and then to obtain full Security Clearance (SC) in line with the United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) requirements.
To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years' residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks. As part of the vetting process you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, eligibility to work in the UK, time spent abroad over the last 5 years, as well as employment and / or educational history.
For further details of the evidence required to apply for security clearance please follow this link - .
In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.
At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.
Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.
Great journeys start here, apply now!